The much-awaited clash between Australia and India will kick-off at Adelaide, with the home side going into the series as favourites. Though Australia are without Steven Smith and David Warner, their premier match-winners, the side is packed with quality batters and pace bowlers, who could trouble the touring side on the day.
Australia have had a torrid 2018 in the Test format, winning only two of the seven games that they have played this year. They were thrashed three-to-one by South Africa in South Africa and then lost one-nil to Pakistan in October, but they are a dangerous outfit at home, and the Indians will be wary of their track record, especially at the Adelaide Oval.
They have lost just one game at the venue against India and have won their previous five encounters here. Though the Virat Kohli-led Indian side are coming off a successful series against West Indies at home, their batting unit still looks iffy, with Ajinkya Rahane not in the best of forms and KL Rahul facing questions over his technique in stern conditions. The Indian bowlers, who had a successful England tour earlier this year, struggled in the practice game and with India's dubious away record in Tests, they head into the clash as the underdogs.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Tim Paine (8.5 credits)
Paine has led the side with gusto ever since the ball-tampering saga broke out earlier this year. In the last 12 months, the keeper has reinvented his batting and has scored 397
The much-awaited clash between Australia and India will kick-off at Adelaide, with the home side going into the series as favourites. Though Australia are without Steven Smith and David Warner, their premier match-winners, the side is packed with quality batters and pace bowlers, who could trouble the touring side on the day.
Australia have had a torrid 2018 in the Test format, winning only two of the seven games that they have played this year. They were thrashed three-to-one by South Africa in South Africa and then lost one-nil to Pakistan in October, but they are a dangerous outfit at home, and the Indians will be wary of their track record, especially at the Adelaide Oval.
They have lost just one game at the venue against India and have won their previous five encounters here. Though the Virat Kohli-led Indian side are coming off a successful series against West Indies at home, their batting unit still looks iffy, with Ajinkya Rahane not in the best of forms and KL Rahul facing questions over his technique in stern conditions. The Indian bowlers, who had a successful England tour earlier this year, struggled in the practice game and with India's dubious away record in Tests, they head into the clash as the underdogs.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Tim Paine (8.5 credits)
Paine has led the side with gusto ever since the ball-tampering saga broke out earlier this year. In the last 12 months, the keeper has reinvented his batting and has scored 397 runs in 9 games at an average of 44.11, with two fifties. He struck a crucial 61 against Pakistan recently and against India he would be eager to lead from the front once more.
Batsman: Virat Kohli (11 credits)
Virat Kohli's selection is almost a no-brainer in the side considering the phenomenal form that he has been in the last few months. Since December 2017, Kohli has scored 1063 runs at a stunning average of 59.05, with four hundreds, including knocks of 153, 139 and 149 against South Africa, West Indies and England respectively. He was the standout performer for India when the side toured Down Under in 2014/15, and one can expect him to continue his form against the tough Aussies as well.
All-rounder: Mitchell Marsh (9 credits)
Though the younger Marsh struggled in the Tests against Pakistan, he stamped his mark in the Ashes last year, scoring two hundreds in three matches at an average of 106.66. He has not been in the best of forms with the ball, picking only 6 wickets in the last year, but with India having the tendency of falling to part-time bowlers, Marsh could come into the game with the cherry as well.
Bowler: Pat Cummins (9 credits)
Australia has the dreaded pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in their ranks and they will pose a real threat to the Indian batters in this series. Cummins, who is one of the top ten bowlers in the world at the moment, has the knack of picking wickets with the new-ball, and with India's top-order failing to counter seam and swing in their tours to South Africa and England, Cummins' spell could be crucial in determining the way the match goes.
Captain: Pat Cummins
Vice-captain: Virat Kohli
